Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Summary: Meena Harper has always been able to tell when someone is going to die….until she meets Lucien Antonescu. She can't see his death because he's been dead for centuries. Their whirlwind romance is cut short when a Palatine Guard comes in town with the sole purpose of tracking down vampires like Lucien. Meena becomes wrapped up in a battle between dueling vampires. Will she choose the man she loves or life?

My thoughts: Meg Cabot is one of my favorite YA authors. Her voice is unique and fun, but I felt her voice didn’t translate as well into this adult book. The dialogue didn’t seem to flow as her books normally do. The minor characters did little to develop the plot. (The best friend is a random character until the final battle of the book.) Several characters were found to be vampires by the end of the book, which didn’t seem realistic (as realistic as a vampire writing soap operas can be). I am tired of the vampire phase, so this could be the reason for my low rating since the book does have some great qualities. For one, Meena is a strong female character. She’s independent and doesn’t follow blindly after a man. Second, Meg Cabot is able to weave humor into a tale of a murderer, a vampire feud, and a boyfriend who turns into a dragon when provoked. Both of these redeeming qualities aren't enough to make me want to buy the book to reread it.

Overall, the book is an average read for an adult or high school (11th up) girl who wants more of the vampire craze.

Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills

Summary: Paige Rogers is a small-town librarian with a big-city secret. Her name is really Mikaela Olsson, and she is in hiding after a botched mission with the CIA. When a dangerous man from her past wants her cooperation, Mikaela’s cover unravels, and everyone she loves is in danger.

My thoughts: This is the first book I’ve read by DiAnn Mills, and I enjoyed it. It has a little bit of romance and a lot of action. The plot is well-developed, and Mills creates a sense of family with the minor characters that make up the small town. Fans of Dee Henderson will enjoy this book. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Author's website: http://www.diannmills.com/

Find on Amazon: Breach of Trust on Amazon

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Summary: Jamilah is a Lebanese teen living in Autralia. To diguise her heritage from her racist classmates, Jamilah goes by the name Jamie, dyes her hair blonde, and wears blue contacts. She also keeps herself distant, developing few friendships in an effort to keep her classmates from finding out the truth of her father who has a PhD yet works as a cab driver who barely speaks English, her activist sister, and her fun-loving brother. Although Jamilah does not want to let her classmates know the truth about her, she loves her heritage and enjoys participating in a band with fellow Muslim teens from the center where she takes Arabic lessons.

When Jamilah meets a guy online who allows her to be herself, Jamiliah must decide whether to be true to herself or to fit in with the crowd.

My thoughts: I loved Randa's first book Does My Head Look Big in This, and I was eager to read this book. It wasn't as good as the first book, partly because it seemed to have the same plot: Muslim girl standing up to her classmates over her heritage. The book was predictable, but the strength of the characters made the book an overall good read. Jamilah is a character teens will like. She lives a sheltered life since her father has a Charter of Curfew Rights, which is a list of rules including one that Jamilah must be home by sunset. She longs to fit in yet still remain true to her family. The parts of the book where her father tells her stories of her mother are heartwarming. Her sister's antics and her brother's frivolousness balance each other and show the differences between males and females in Muslim culture. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Predator by Terri Blackstock

Summary: Krista Carmichael is on a mission: to catch the man who kidnapped and killed her sister. When other young women are stalked and kidnapped in the area, the cops are led to GrapeVyne, a social network where the girls left detailed "thought bubbles" about their day. Ryan, the CEO of GrapeVyne, joins Krista on the search for the killer and online predator.

My thoughts: This book is great! In addition to the plot about Krista and Ryan finding the murderer, there are also several intriguing subplots: social networks and what information people, teenagers in particular, put out for anyone to see; the grief of a father who has lost his wife and now his daughter; Krista's mission work in a low-income area; and the corruption of GrapeVyne's partners.

The book leaves the reader wondering what exactly these ad companies have access to on our social networking pages. Remember to only add friends that you actually know, and always keep your page private!

Author's website: http://www.terriblackstock.com/